Apparatus for cleaning surfaces



Aug. 19, 1959' a. TAYLOR 3,461,478

' APPARATUS FOR CLEANING summons Filed May 2. 1966 4 sheets-sheet 1 I gBY M-- wki I20 F/G. 9

j INVENTOR.

asnmmo TAYLOR ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1969 I B, TAYLOR 3,461,478

I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SURFACES Filed May 2, 1966 4 Sheets-SheetINVENTOR.

BERNARD TAYLOR AMMM vATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SURFACES Filed May2, 1966 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 TIONAL TABLE CLEANSING APPARATUS O-OPENCONDITION O.R.-OVERIDE ACT-ACTION C-CLOSED CONDITION S NOJ DROP I DROPDROP I l' OFF VAC. PART VAC. PART VACCL. PART CL. 8

CLEA'IR PART. VAC. CL. 0 C

INVENTOR. BERNARD TAYLOR ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1969 B. TAYLOR 3,451,478

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SURFACES Filed May 2'. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l Il l a g l l an O In (9 I Q 0,. =5 s: a

w v F- -2 INVENTOR.

BERNARD TAYLOR v ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 302 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a surface treatingapparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus used to impel particlesagainst the surface to be treated, for example to clean the surface. Thesurface treating apparatus is provided with a head means engageable witha surface being worked upon; a vacuum Supply means connected to the headmeans to create vacuum pressure therein; and a particle supply meansalso connected to the head means whereby the vacuum pressure createdthrough the vacuum supply means is usable to (1) remove particles andforeign debris from the area being worked upon, and (2) to pick up andconvey the particles from the particle supply means through the headmeans against the surface being worked upon. Still, more specifically,this invention relates to an apparatus operable through the use ofvacuum pressure to apply a coating of wax or the like to a given surfaceor to clean the surface by impelling and continuously removing thecleansing particles and loosened impurities from the surface.

Various types of surface treating apparatus are known to the prior artusing a high pressure blast of air containing an abrasive material toclean a surface and a vacuum pressure to remove the abrasive and foreignparticles from the cleansed area. These prior art devices are commonlyused to clean areas before and after welding and have had extensiveusage in the aircraft industry. However, these devices are structurallycomplicated, expensive, and are not readily adaptable to generalcommercial usage in cleansing automobile Windshields and the like.Additionally, the prior art devices are costly to operate and maintain.

According to the present invention, a new cleaning apparatus is providedwhich includes a storage cabinet housing containing a cleansing particlesupply hopper, a conveyor means operable to supply the particles to acleansing vacuum head, a vacuum means operable to pull the particlesagainst a surface to be treated and return the same to the housing, andseparator means operable to separate the air-particle mixtures for therecycling of the particles. The apparatus is selectively operable tocleanse a given surface or apply a coating of wax or the like thereto.

In preferred specific embodiments of the invention a surface treatingapparatus is provided usable in filling stations or the like to, forexample, clean Windshields, the apparatus including a housing having aparticle supply line, an optional vacuum line, and a particle-vacuumreturn line leading from the housing and all operably connected to atleast one cleansing vacuum head. Within the housing is mounted aparticle supply hopper having auger conveyor means secured thereto andoperable to positively move particles such as sponge rubber, wax, etc.,through the particle supply line to the cleansing vacuum heads. A largevacuum pump mounted on an air-particle separator mounted within thehousing is selectively operably connected to either the vacuum line orthe particle vacuum return line. The separator operates to remove theparticles from the air-particle mixture returned from the vacuum head,and the exhaust of the vacuum pump is used to elevate the separatedparticles to the particle supice ply hopper. An electrical controlcircuit is operable to selectively control the supply of particles andthe vacuum pressure to the one or more of the vacuum heads and includesa plurality of control switches, pressure control switches, and solenoidactuated slide valves. The surface treating apparatus is operable underone set of conditions in the electrical control circuit to create avacuum through the vacuum supply line to the vacuum heads for use of theapparatus as a conventional vacuum cleaner. The electrical controlcircuit is operable to create a second set of conditions whereupon theparticles are conveyed to the vacuum heads through the particle supplyline by the conveyor means and pulled downwardly by a vacuum supplied tothe cleansing vacuum heads through the particle-vacuum line. The vacuumheads are pressed against a surface to be treated to create air sealsand the vacuum draws the particles under accelerated velocity againstthe surface and the particles with any foreign impurities are thencarried through the particle-vacuum return line to the vacuum pump andinto the air separator. There the particles are separated and conveyedupwardly into the supply hopper for continuous reusage. A heating unitcan be provided to heat the exhaust air and dry the particles afterusage during conveyance by this air to the particle supply hopper. It isseen that the surface treating apparatus provides a rapid means forcleaning surfaces without the use of liquids, special detergents, etc.

In another preferred embodiment of the surface treating apparatus ofthis invention, means are provided for supplying wax, paint or the likethrough the vacuum heads to a given surface for applying a protectivecoating thereto. It is obvious that this principle of coating by impactcan be used for numerous applications to apply a desired coating to agiven surface.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a newapparatus for treating surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaningsurfaces by impacting with small particles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a surface treatingapparatus using vacuum principles to draw particles into acceleratedcontact with a given surface for cleansing or coating thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus having avacuum supply, a particle supply hopper, an air separator, a pluralityof vacuum heads, and control means for selectively operating theapparatus as a conventional vacuum cleaner through the vacuum supply andvacuum heads or as a cleansing structure for cleansing a given surfaceby particle impact therewith on moving particles from the supply hopperthrough the vacuum supply and vacuum heads into impact with the surfaceand returning the particles to the separator for recycling.

One other object of this invention is to provide an apparatus usingvacuum principles to cleanse a surface by the impact of resilientparticles therewith using vacuum means to convey the particles and aseparator operable to remove the particles from an air-particle mixturefor reuse.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a surface treatingapparatus that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple tooperate, and substantially maintenance free.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a filling station island illustrating theapparatus of this invention associated with a pair of gasoline pumps;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the container housing of thesurface treating apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 2 with portionsbroken away for clarity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view'illustrating the auger conveyormeans of the surface treating apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating theair-lock transfer means of the surface treating apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 6--6 in FIG. 1illustrating the particle supply and vacuum feed lines of the surfacetreating apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a vacuumhead of the surface treating apparatus of this invention as applied to asurface;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view taken along lines 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the augerconveyor means of the surface treating apparatus of this inventionillustrated with portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the operational features of thesurface treating apparatus of this invention with the electrical controlcircuit means therefor;

FIG. 12 is a conditional table showing the operational positions of thecontrol switches and the solenoid actuated slide valves of theelectrical control circuit means of this invention in various stages ofoperation; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the surfacetreating apparatus of this invention illustrated for supplying materialssuch as waxes and the like to a surface to be treated.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the new surface treating apparatus of this invention,such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the samereference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/orstructure. It is to be understood that such discussion and descriptionis not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, thesurface treating apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 16,is shown in conjunction with a pair of gasoline pumps 17 therebyillustrating a possible conventional usage of this invention in aservice station application. The apparatus 16 includes a cabinetcontainer or housing 18 having a vacuum supply line 19, a particlesupply line 21, and a particle vacuum return line 22, connected andextended therefrom and the lines are supported at their outer ends by anupright post 23. These lines are operably connected to one or morevacuum-type hoses having a working head secured to the outer end thereofas will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2 & 3, the major components of the surface treatingapparatus 16 are contained within the housing 18 and includes an upperparticle supply hopper secured to a pair of opposed upright sidewalls 27of the housing 18 and having downwardly extended bottom walls 28converging to a first auger means 30. The hopper 25 opens into the firstauger means 30 which has an elongated casing 31 enclosing a power auger33 driven by a motor 34. The motor 34 is mounted on a bracket 36 securedto an upright inner support wall 38. The first auger means 30 isoperable to move material particles within the supply hopper 25outwardly into a container 39 to be picked up by second auger means 41extended vertically therefrom. The hopper 25 has a top wall 32, an inletopening 44, and an exhaust opening 45 whereby an air-particle mixture ismoved through inlet opening 44 and the air is discharged through theexhaust opening 45 with the particles settling within the hopper 25 forconveyance by the first auger means 30.

Below the supply hopper 25 is a separator assembly 47 having theparticle vacuum line 22 extended transversely through a sidewall 49 ofthe housing 18 and secured to the upper portion of a separator housing50. The walls of the separator housing 50 taper downwardly in a coneshape into an outlet section 52 leading to an air-lock transfer means53. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the air lock transfer means 53 has amotor 55 secured to a bottom wall 56 of the cabinet housing 18 which isin driving engagement through a pulley 58 and belt 59 with an elongatedshaft 61 extended within a cylindrical casing 63. The casing 63 issecured as by welding to the downwardly converging walls of theseparator housing 50 in an air tight relationship. A rotatable van-typewheel assembly '65 is secured to the shaft 61 by a key member 66. Thewheel assembly 65 has a central hub 68 mounted about and keyed to theshaft 61 and a plurality of spaced radially extended vanes 69. The wheelassembly 65 is construced so that the vanes 69 provides a seal orair-lock with the contacting inner surfaces of the cylindrical casing 63which is a desirable function in order to achieve proper separation ofthe air and particle mixture within the separator assembly 47 and toprevent air losses therefrom. It is obvious that the vanes 69 can bemade of a resilient type material so as to have a wiping action with thecontacting cylindrical casing 63 to provide the proper material movementand air seal.

As shown in FIG. 5, the casing 63 has a downwardly depending conveyorchannel 71 integral with a lower portion thereof adapted to receiveparticles moved by the vanes 69 from the outlet section 52 of theseparator housing 50. An air conveyor pipe 73 is secured to an outletend at one end of the conveyor channel 71 and extends therefrom upwardlyto the inlet opening 44 into the top portion of the supply hopper 25. Itis seen that material from the separator housing 50 is conveyeddownwardly into the channel 71 by the rotating vanes 69 for transferinto the supply hopper 25 through the conveyor pipe 73 as will beexplained.

Mounted on the top surface of the separator assembly 47 is a vacuum pumpassembly 75 having an electric motor 76 secured thereto as by bolts andconnected by a belt 78 to a driven pulley 79 of a large vacuum pump 81.The pump 81 draws air or an air particle mixture through the vacuum line19 or the particle vacuum line 22, respectively, into the pump assembly75 for discharge through a conduit 83. A first conduit section 85extends downwardly and into an inlet opening 86 in the opposite endsection of the conveyor channel 71. This large air discharge from thepump assembly 75 is operable to pick up the particles in the channel 71moved thereto by the vanes 69 and convey the same to the conveyor pipe73 and upwardly into the supply hopper 25. A second conduit section 87extends from the pump 81 through a filter bag 88 for discharge into theatmosphere as a conventional vacuum cleaner. A heater unit 90 isconnectable to the conduit 83 and operable to heat the discharge air fordrying the particles during the aforementioned conveyance to the hopper25 for reasons to become ob- VlOlIS.

Returning now to the exterior of the cabinet housing 18, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the second auger means 41 has an auger screw 92 driven bya motor 93 operable to elevate particles upwardly into another container95 whereupon the particles are picked up and moved horizontally throughan elongated cylindrical housing 97 by a third auger means 98. The thirdauger means 98 has a motor 99 mounted on the upright support post 23operable to rotate an auger screw 162 within the cylindrical housing 97to move particles therewithin outwardly from the cabinet housing 18 tofirst and second operational head means 104 and 106, respectively.

The vacuum line 19 and the particle vacuum line 22 extend from thevacuum pump 81 and the air separator housing 50, respectively,transversely of the cabinet housing 18, and subsequently angle upwardlyand horizontally substantially parallel to the particle supply line 21.

The outermost end of the particle vacuum line 22 is secured to the post23 and the vacuum line 19 is connected to the particle vacuum line 22 bypipes 108 and 109 (FIG. 1). The air-vacuum passages through either thevacuum line or the particle vacuum line 22 and the pipes 108 and 109 areselectively controlled by solenoid slide 'valves as will be furtherexplained. (FIG. 6.) Intermediate of the pipes 108 and 109 are integraldownwardly extended conduits 111 and 112, respectively, connected to theupper end of special hoses 114 and 116 which are part of the first andsecond head means 104 and 106, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, thehoses 114 and 116 are separated into the two independent compartmentshaving one connected to the conduits 111 and 112 and the othercompartment connected by tube members 118 and 119, respectively, to theparticle supply line 21. It is seen that a solenoid slide valve ismounted within each of the tube members 118 and 119 for reasons to beexplained.

The hoses 114 and 116 can be of any desired length having the lowerouter ends secured to vacuum heads 120 and 121, respectively. As thehose assemblies are substantially identical, only one need be describedin detail. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper end of the vacuum head 120 hasseparate cylindrical sections 123 and 124 connected in an air tightrelationship to the separate compartments of the hose 114. The lowerportion of the vacuum head 120 resembles a standard vacuum cleaner headhaving an outer periphery of bristle members 126 secured thereto. Thebristle or brush members 126 extend parallel to each other with theoutermost ends lying in a common plane. It is obvious that a resilientmaterial or the like can be used instead of the bristle members 126, themain concern being the achievement of an air seal about the periphery ofthe vacuum head with a contacting surface to be treated while permittingeasy movement of the vacuum heads over the surface. A pushbutton typeswitch is mounted on the vacuum head 120 for reasons to become obvious.As shown in FIG. 9, the vacuum head 120 is formed with a rectangularshaped surface contacting outline; however, various sizes and shapescould be used as desired depending on type and shape of surfaces to betreated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, immediately above the tube members 118 and119 are mounted vent pipes 127 and 128, respectively, secured to thecylindrical housing 97 operable to receive inlet air for passing overthe auger screw 102 of the third auger means 98. The vent pipes 127 and128 are of an inverted J-shape so as to prevent rain and the like fromcontaminating the particle conveying system.

It is seen that the vacuum heads 120 and 121 are usable as aconventional vacuum cleaner with the inlet air provided around thevacuum heads and conveyed through the vacuum line 19 into the pump 81for impurity separation in the filter bag 88 in a conventional manner.Additionally, the inlet air to the vacuum heads is provided through thevents 127 and 128 to pick up particles within the particle supply line21 for accelerated impact under vacuum pressure with the surface to betreated. Thereupon, the air-particle mixture is conveyed through theparticle vacuum line 22 into the separator assembly 47 to divide theparticles therefrom for recycling in the system.

In order to provide for the proper sequential operation of the surfacetreating apparatus 16 of this invention, a control circuit means,indicated generally at 130, is provided as illustrated in the schematicdiagram of FIG. 11 and explained by the conditional chart of FIG. 12.Each of the vacuum heads 120 and 121 are supported on brackets 132 and133, respectively, selectively secured to the post 23, housing 18, orgasoline pumps 17 and acting as normally closed lever switches connectedto power sources 135 and 136 through lines 138' and 139, respectively.When the brackets 132 and 133 are supporting the weight of therespective vacuum heads and connected hoses, the switches designated asSW-S and SW-6, are then normally opened to the power sources and 136.The pushbutton switches mounted on the vacuum heads 120 and 121,hereinafter designated as SW-l and SW-2, respectively, connect powersources 141 and 142 through conductors 144 and 145 to supply electricalcurrent to switches SW-4 and SW-3, respectively. The switches SW3 andSW-4 are of the pressure-type actuated by a vacuum in the hoses 116 and114, respectively, to complete a circuit through lines 147 and 148 tonormally closed solenoid slide valves 15A and 15B, respectively.

The closing of either of the pressure switches SW-3 or SW-4 acts topermit energization of a relay 150 through lines 152 or 153,respectively, to energize the first, second and third auger conveyormotors 34, 93, and 99. Additionally, a conductor 154 further energizesthe heater 90, and the conveyor motor 55 on closing of the relay 150. Itis seen that the solenoid valves 15A and 15B control movement of slidingvalve members 155 and 156 which are operable to open the respectivepassageways from the particle supply line 21 into the hoses 116 and 114,respectively, when energized. It is seen that the pushbutton switchesSW-1 and SW-2 are respectively operable when closed to supply current topressure switches SW-3 and SW-4, which in turn, when closed under vacuumpressure, energizes respective ones of valves 15A and 15B to supplyparticles to the respective head means 106 and 104 as the relay 150 andauger motors 34, 93, and 99 are also energized.

The switches SW-5 and SW6 are connected by a common line 158 to thevacuum pump motor 76 so that this motor is energized each time one ofthe vacuum heads 120 and 121 is lifted off the bracket switches SW-5 orSW-6 whereby vacuum pressure is supplied through the vacuum line 19 orthe particle vacuum line 22. Also, switch SW-S connects the power source135 through a line 160 to energize a normally closed solenoid slidevalve 15F, and switch SW-6 is similarly connectable through a line 161to the power source 136 to energize a similar slide valve 15D associatedwith the second head means 106. Additionally, on closing the push buttonswitch SW-l, a conductor 163 energizes the normally closed solenoidslide valves 15B and 156 on the pipe 108 of the first head means 104 anda line 164 energizes slide valves 151 and 15K to divert the dischargeair from the pump 76 for usage on the system as a material conveyor. Onclosing switch SW2, a conductor 165 energizes the normally closed slidevalves 15C and 15H and also valves 15] and 15K through line 168. All ofthe solenoid actuated slide valves used in the control circuit means 130are the normally closed type except for valve 15] which is of thenormally opened type. The pairs of solenoid actuated valves 15F, 15G and15D, 15H are of a double coil type actuating common slide members 166and 167, respectively, used to open and close the passageways betweenthe vacuum supply line 19 and the hoses 1'14 and 116. The solenoid coilsof the slide valves 15G and 15H are of high strength whereby when eachpair of solenoid valves are energized simultaneously, the strongervalves 156 and 15H act to override the respective concurrently energizedvalves 15F and 15D to close the slide members 166 and 167 and the vacuumsupply line 19 to the hoses 114 and 116. It is seen that the valves 15Gand 15H are normally neutral and only operate to close the slide members166 and 167 if they have been opened by the valves 15F and 15D,respectively.

Concurrently, with the closing of either one of the switches SW-l andSW-2, and the corresponding pressure switches SW-4 and SW-3, the relay150 is closed to energize the conveyor motors 34, 93, and 99, and theairlock motor 55 are through the line 154. The optional heater 90 can beenergized selectively as desired depending on the moisture content ofthe particles used in the system or connected by a line 169 to line 154so as to operate whenever the relay 150 is energized.

In summary, the control circuit means 130 includes a plurality ofnormally open switches SW-1SW6, inclusively, operable to energize therelay 150 and the normally closed solenoid slide valves 15A-15l-I, 15K,and the normally open slide valve 15] as shown in column 1 of the tableof FIG. 12. The various positional relationship of the switches andvalves are given for a desired operational condition of the first andsecond head means 104 and 106 for sequentially operating the numerousmotors in the system.

In the use and operation of the surface treating apparatus 16 of thisinvention, on using the first head means 104, hereinafter referred to asdrop #1, solely as a vacuum cleaner (column 2 of FIG. 12), the vacuumhead 120 is lifted off the bracket switch SW-5 which simultaneouslyenergizes the vacuum pump assembly 75 through line 158 and valve F isopen through line 160 to open the slide member 166. Because the pushbutton switch SW1 has not been energized, the valves 15B, 15E, and 15Kremain closed, and 15] remains open whereby air is drawn by the vacuumpump 76 through the vacuum line 19 into the first hose 114 so as to actas a conventional vacuum cleaner. Although the pressure switch SW4 isclosed by the vacuum pressure when the vacuum head 120 of the drop #1 isplaced against a given surface to be treated, the solenoid slide valve1513, the relay 15d, and the auger motors 34, 93 and 99 are notenergized as the push button switch SV 1 is opened. It is noted that theslide valve 15G remains on the inactive or neutral position; however,the solenoid valve 15? is energized to hold the slide member 166 open.

In the operation of the second head means 1%, hereinafter referred to asdrop #2, as a vacuum cleaner (column No. 4), the vacuum head 121 islifted off the bracket switch SW6 to energize the vacuum pump 76 throughthe line 158 and the solenoid valve 15D. The drop #2 thereupon acts as aconventional vacuum cleaner similarly as described for drop #1 as shownon the conditional chart of FIG. 12. Since the push button switch SW-Zis not closed, the vacuum pressure is drawn through the hose 116, vacuumline 119, vacuum pump assembly 75, and discharged through the filter bag88 to the atmosphere.

In the use of the drop #1 or first head means 1114 as a particle cleaneras shown in column 3 of FIG. 12, the drop #1 initially acts as aconventional vacuum cleaner as above-described on lifting the vacuumhead 120 or? the bracket switch SW5. For the particle supply portion,the switch SW1 is manually closed to concurrently supply portion, theswitch SW1 is manually closed to concurrently supply current to thepressure switch SW-4l from the power source 141 through line 144,energize solenoid valves 15E and 15G through lines 144 and 163, andenergize valves 151 and 15K through the line 164. Because the solenoidvalve 15G is stronger than the also energized valve 15F, the slide valvemember 166 is held in the closed position whereby the first hose 114 isopen to the particle-vacuum return line 22. On applying the drop #1vacuum head 12%? to a surface to be cleaned, the pressure switch SW-4 isclosed by the vacuum pressure to energize the solenoid valve 15B, therelay 1511, start the auger motors 34, 93, and 99, and energize themotor 55 an the heater 90. This conveys particles from the supply hopperoutwardly through the cylindrical housing 97 for dumping into the tubemember 113. With the slide valve 15B open, the particles and airsupplied through the vent 127 are pulled downwardly into the hose 114under vacuum pressure. The vacuum is provided through theparticle-vacuum line 22, the hose 14, and the drop #1 vacuum head 126 todraw the particles downwardly into impact with the surface to becleaned. The particles are foreign impurities picked up from the surfaceare then pulled through particle vacuum line 22 into the air separatorassembly 47. The exhaust air of the vacuum assembly is now directed bythe valves 151 and 15K through the optional heater for drying and isused to convey the particles back to the supply hopper 25 to completethe cycle. It is seen that the transfer means 53, and heater 90 are onlyenergized when switches SW1 or SW2 are energized and the respectivevacuum pressure switches SW-land SW-3 are closed by contact with thesurface to be cleaned. This regulates the proper timing and supply ofthe particles so as to appear only at the time at which the vacuum headsare against the surface to be cleaned.

As shown in column 5 of FIG. 12, the drop #2 head means 106 operatessimilarly as a particle supply cleaner with the solenoid valve 15Hoverriding the also energized solenoid valve 15D to open the drop #2hose 116 to the partial vacuum line 22 as above-described for the drop#1 head means 164.

The clean'mg apparatus 16 can be used with the first and second headmeans 104 and 106 acting as conventional vacuum cleaners as shown incolumn 6 of FIG. 12, or with one acting as a vacuum cleaner and theother as a particle cleaner as shown in columns 7 and 8, or as both headmeans being used simultaneously as particle cleaners (column 9). it isseen that the controlled supply of particles to the first and secondhead means 104 and 1% with the impact of the particles against thesurface to be cleaned operates to remove dirt and the like in a highlyefiicient and rapid manner. In cleaning windshields, for example, theuse of a liquid solution and subsequent drying operations is notrequired and this results in a tremendous time and labor-savingoperation.

The particles used in the surface cleaning system can be of any suitablecomposition such as a sponge material, a foam material, sawdust, and thelike which acts as an abrasive material without scarring or damaging thesurface to be cleaned. However, it is obvious that any degree ofabrasion can be obtained as desired by the choice of particles to beused with application by the novel supply means of this invention.

Although various vacuum pressures can be used depending on thecomposition of the particles, the use of sawdust of approximately .080inch average diameter fed at a rate of 10 lbs. per minute under one tofive inches of mercury pressure at the pick up heads has been proven tobe satisfactory in cleaning automobile Windshields. If the particles arefed at approximately 4500 feet per minute against the windshield, amoderately dirty and normal sized windshield can be cleaned in 10-15seconds. It is obvious that the density, type of particles used, andfeed rate may be varied to change the end result and cleaning time.

The surface treating apparatus can be used in numerous applications suchas cleaning all types of glassware, automobile bodies, ceilings, walls,etc.; degreasing parts of all types; peening a given surface by smallshot to give a desired appearance; polishing and bufiing to achieve adesired surface finish; and the particles can be used as physicaltherapy to apply a combination of suction and impact to controlledsections of the human body. It is obvious that the particles would bevaried for these different applications whereby small rubber or plasticballs, abrasive particles, foamed plastic particles, glass beads, steelshot, and the like can be used.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 13, indicatedgenerally at 16A having the vacuum pump assembly 75, the air separatorassembly 47, supply lines 19, 21, 22, optional heater 90, vacuum headsand 121, and the particle hopper 25 as previously described.Additionally, the new surface treating apparatus 16A has a coatingsupply mechanism 172 operable to inject material into the supply hopper25 for movement through the particle supply line 21 to the head means104 and 1&6. This material can be small particles of wax, liquids,chemicals or the like which will impact the surface to be coated in thesame manner as previously described for the cleansing particles butleaving a film thereupon. It is obvious that numerous types of coatingmaterials can be used to efficiently and effectively cover a given areaby applying waxes, paints, rust inhibitors, and the like. The coatingparticles are applied to a given surface in a similar method aspreviously described for the use of cleaning particles.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description in the preferredembodiments of the applicants new and novel surface treating apparatus,relatively simple means have been provided which are readily usable toclean or coat a given surface by unskilled labor. Furthermore, applicants apparatus eliminates a great deal of time-consuming and tediouswork involved in cleaning windshields and the like.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating surfaces, comprising:

(a) head means adapted for applying to a surface in an air sealedrelationship,

(b) vacuum means connected to said head means to supply a vacuumpressure to the surface,

() particle supply means and particle separating means connected to saidhead means to selectively feed particles to said head means whereby thevacuum pressure pulls said particles at an accelerated velocity intoimpact against the surface for treating thereof,

(d) vent supply means mounted on said particle supply means operable tosupply air at atmospheric pressure thereto so that the air operatesunder the vacuum pressure to pick up, and move said particles throughsaid head means to the surface being worked thereupon, and

(e) control means having a plurality of valve members, control switches,and a circuit means connecting said valve members and said controlswitches to said head means, said vacuum means, and said supply means,said control means having members connected together, actuatable andoperable under one set of conditions to energize said vacuum means onlyto operate said head means as a vacuum cleaner receiving intake airsupply from the area about said head means, said control means havingmembers connected together, actuatable and operable under a second setof conditions to energize said vacuum means, said head means, and saidsupply means through vacuum pressure when said head means is applied tothe surface in the air sealed relationship.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) one of said control switches has a member to actuate and operatesame upon change of pressure thereon and being of a normally open typeconnected to said head means, and said one control switch is operablyconnected in said control means to automatically close upon vacuumpressure being applied thereto to permit energization of said supplymeans and said separating means under said second set of conditions butnot under said first set of conditions.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

(a) another of said control switches mounted on said head means manuallyoperable to energize said one control switch and certain ones of saidvalve members to energize said supply means and said separating means tofeed particles into impact with the surface on closing said one controlswitch when said head means is applied to the surface in the air sealedrelationship.

4. An apparatus for treating a given surface, comprising:

(a) a vacuum head means having an elongated hose member and a headmember secured to one end thereof, said hose member separated into aparticle supply section and a vacuum section,

(b) vacuum supply means including a vacuum pump having an inlet pipeconnectable to said vacuum section of said head means and a dischargepipe,

(c) particle supply means having a storage hopper and conveyor means toselectively convey particles through a conduit connected to saidparticle supply section of said head means,

(d) separator means having an intake pipe connectable with said vacuumsection of said head means, an exhaust pipe connected to said vacuumsupply means, and a discharge section, said separator means having aparticle discharge conveyor means and a conduit connected thereto, tosaid exhaust pipe of said vacuum supply means, and said hopper wherebyin operation exhaust air from said vacuum supply means operates to pickup and convey separated particles from said conveyor means to saidstorage hopper through said conduit conveyor means to said storagehopper through said conduit,

(e) control means having solenoid slide valves and control switchesinterconnected by a circuit means, said control means operably connectedto said head means, said vacuum supply means, said particle supplymeans, and said separator means, said control means having a bracketswitch supporting said head member,

(f) means connecting said bracket switch to said vacuum pump wherebysaid pump is energized on movement of said head member of said bracketswitch for air intake through said inlet pipe as a conventional vacuumcleaner, and

(g) one of said control switches mounted on said head member operable toenergize certain ones of said slide valves, and another one of saidcontrol switches mounted on said hose member, connected in said controlmeans and operable under vacuum pressure to energize said particlesupply means and said separator means whereby particles are suppliedthrough said conduit to said head means and pulled into impact with thesurface of the vacuum pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1953 Germany.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

